Taipei, April 16 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian called Monday on the U.S. authorities to provide Taiwan with the defensive weapons it needs to ensure its security and democracy.
Chen made the remarks while meeting with David Wu, a Chinese-American member of the House of Representatives, at the Presidential Office.
The ROC head of state lauded Wu as "a son of Taiwan, the glory of Taiwan and a friend of Taiwan" and said that democracy is Taiwan's strongest protection.
"The democratic outcome of Taiwan will be certainly ensured if the United States provides Taiwan with necessary defense weapons in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) or if the U.S. Congress passes the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act (TSEA) currently being debated," Chen said.
Chen also expressed his heartfelt thanks to Wu for his firm support for the cause of the ROC and his assistance in calling for the easing of limitations on visits to the United States by Taiwan's leaders and for providing Taiwan with necessary defense weapons. "You are worthy of being described as a real friend of Taiwan," Chen said.
Chen said that he was moved when Wu and Lin Chao-liang, a Chinese American violinist, visited their home town of Hsinchu last week and said he hopes it will connect Taiwan's "silicon village"--Hsinchu--with "silicon forest"--Oregon--so as to build Taiwan into a "green silicon valley" in the 21st century.
In return, Wu praised Taiwan's democratic achievements highly. He said that history is written by brave individuals and that Chen and Vice President Annette Lu are included among those history-making individuals. "Liberty, democracy and human rights are not bestowed by heaven but must be strived for through hard labor," Wu said.
Taiwan's implementation of the first peaceful power transition is a common glory for the whole of Asia and history will record these events, Wu continued.
Chen replied that it was also a glory for a Taiwan-born person to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.